Music Industry Plans Mass Lawsuits

After losing a round to the RIAA over the customer information requests -- requests enabled by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 -- Verizon appealed the case. But in the meantime, Verizon was forced to turn over the names of four of its Internet customers that the RIAA was seeking.

If the RIAA were to request additional names in the coming weeks, "it appears we would have to comply," said Sarah Deutsch, Verizon associate general counsel. But since the case is on appeal -- oral arguments are scheduled for Sept. 16 -- any additional requests by RIAA before the appeal would amount to "misuse of process on a mass-scale basis," said Deutsch.

An RIAA spokesperson didn't respond to a message requesting comment.